NORTHBOUND CAPE TOWN-PRETORIA J O U R N E Y I N F O R M A T I O N

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Route Map Itinerary Course Information General Information Terms & Conditions

Updated 19 March 2018

GOOD HOPE GOLF NORTHBOUND ITINERARY CAPE TOWN-PRETORIA

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D).

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN CAPE TOWN WITH A TOUR OF THE CITY (D) 08:00 09:00 14:30 16:00 16:30 19:30

Check-in at Rovos Rail Lounge, Cape Town Station. Full-day tour of Cape Town. Transfer to the train at Cape Town Station. Train departs. Travel towards Worcester. Tea is served in the lounge and observation car. Dinner is served in the dining cars. CAPE TOWN Walk through the Company Gardens and visit the Bo-Kaap Museum. The first Malays arrived in the Cape as political refugees and slaves during the 17th century. Nearly two centuries after emancipation these Islamic people moved into the area known today as the Bo-Kaap, building mosques with picturesque minarets and their own Georgian-style houses with Dutch influence. One of the oldest Cape Town buildings houses the museum, which is furnished as a Muslim house of the 19th century and documents the history of the Cape Malays.

En route to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, stop at Diamond Works for a tour of the diamond cutting studio, a jewellery manufacturing workshop, a jewellery design studio as well as a gemological laboratory. Lunch at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a development that has brought new life to the old harbour of the Dutch East India Company in Table Bay. The complex offers shops, craft markets, restaurants, taverns, cinemas, theatres as well as great views over the harbour.

Drive through District Six, named the Sixth Municipal District of Cape Town in 1867. Originally established as a mixed community of freed slaves, merchants, artisans, labourers and immigrants, District Six was a vibrant centre with close links to the city and the port. By the beginning of the 20th century, however, the process of removals and marginalisation had begun. The first to be forced out were Black South Africans who were displaced from the District in 1901. As the more prosperous moved away to the suburbs, the area became a neglected ward of the city. On 11 February 1966 it was declared a White area under the Group Areas Act of 1950 and by 1982 the life of the community was over. More than 60 000 people were forcibly removed to barren outlying areas aptly known as the Cape Flats while bulldozers flattened their houses in District Six. The District Six Museum, established in December 1994, works with the memories of the District Six experience and with that of forced removals more generally.

Visit the Castle of Good Hope, the oldest surviving building in South Africa. This pentagonal fortification replaced a small clay and timber fort built by Commander Jan van Riebeeck in 1652 as a maritime replenishment station for the ships of the Dutch East India Company. The stone walls between the bastions are 150m long and 12m high.

DAY 2: HERMANUS (B,D) 07:00 09:00 13:00 16:00 16:30 19:30

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Drive the scenic route to Hermanus (120km). Transfer to Zandvliet Wine Estate for a tasting. Return to the train at Ashton. Depart for Voorbaai. Tea is served in the lounge and observation car. Dinner is served in the dining cars. HERMANUS Travel over the Rooihoogte and Floorshoogte passes via the Overberg to Hermanus, once a renowned fish market and whaling station. The whale hunts were stopped by international treaty in 1935. The WWF includes Hermanus in its list of 12 best whale-viewing sites in the world but it tops the list when it comes to land-based whale-watching from the town’s natural cliffs. In season (normally between July and November) whales can be seen from as close as 5m away.

DAY 3: LEISURE GUESTS – KNYSNA (B,D*) GOLFERS (B,D*) 07:00 09:00 13:30 16:30 18:30

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Transfer to Knysna for a lagoon ferry ride. Enjoy lunch and shopping at the waterfront. Return to the train. Tea is served in the lounge and observation car. Dinner at Fancourt Golf Estate. Overnight George.

07:00

Please take a change of clothes for dinner. Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure.

*Possible reroute between De Aar, Port Elizabeth and Knysna

* * *

Updated 19 March 2018

GEORGE AND KNYSNA Drive along the coast from George, situated in the heart of the Garden Route. The town itself sits on a 10km plateau between the majestic Outeniqua Mountains to the north and the Indian Ocean to the south. The Knysna Heads – two sandstone cliffs guarding the mouth of the lagoon connecting the estuary with the sea – is a dramatic viewpoint. *Dinner and one pre-dinner beverage (wine, G&T, beer, soda or juice) included.

18:30

Transfer to Fancourt Golf Estate for tee off. Dinner at Fancourt. *Dinner & one beverage (wine, G&T, beer, soda or juice) included.

DAY 4: CANGO CAVES AND OSTRICH FARM (B,D) 07:00 09:15 15:15 16:30 19:30

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Visit an ostrich farm and the Cango Caves. Return to the train. Depart for Port Elizabeth (reroute). Tea is served in the lounge and observation car. Dinner is served in the dining cars. OUDTSHOORN AND CANGO CAVES Surrounded by the natural beauty of this semi-desert region, Oudtshoorn is situated at the foot of the majestic Swartberg Mountain Range. Many rivers, streams and falls have their origins in the Swartberg, Outeniqua and Kammanassie mountains that surround the town. Oudtshoorn is regarded as the centre of the Klein Karoo and is world-renowned for its Cango Caves and the breeding of ostriches. The great natural wonder of the Cango Caves has colourful underground chambers with breathtaking limestone formations. Oudtshoorn is famous for feathering the world in the time of the boa and grand hats. The ostrich boom of the early 20th century turned out many millionaires who, in turn, created elaborate lifestyles in this remote part of Africa.

DAY 5: DAY AT LEISURE ON BOARD (B,L,D) Enjoy a day at leisure on board as the train travels to Kimberley. All meals enjoyed on board.

DAY 6: LEISURE GUESTS – KIMBERLEY (B,D) GOLFERS (B,D) 07:00 09:15

15:45 16:30 19:30

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Visit to the Big Hole Diamond Mine Museum, Noord-Kaap Mall, William Humphreys Art Gallery and the McGregor House Museum. Return to the train. Tea is served in the lounge and observation car. Depart for Bloemfontein. Dinner is served in the dining cars. KIMBERLEY Capital of the Northern Cape, Kimberley is well known for the discovery of diamonds that led to its establishment in 1871.

09:00

16:00 17:00 19:30

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Transfer to Kimberley Golf Club for tee off. Return to the train. Depart for Bloemfontein. Dinner is served in the dining cars.

DAY 7: BLOEMFONTEIN (B,L,D) 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 16:30 19:30

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Tour of Bloemfontein including the Women’s Memorial and Anglo Boer Museum. Return to the train. Depart for Ladysmith. Lunch is served in the dining cars. Tea is served in the lounge and observation car. Dinner is served in the dining cars. BLOEMFONTEIN Bloemfontein is the seat of the South African judicial system. At the end of the 19th century it was also the capital of the old Boer Republic of The Orange Free State. Bloemfontein is capital of the Free State Province and also known as the Rose City. Loch Logan Waterfront, next to the city’s newly renovated stadium, was one of the venues during the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The Women’s Memorial at the Anglo Boer War Museum is a reminder of life in the concentration camps and commemorates the 27 000 women and children who died in these camps. The Museum itself is a graphic depiction of the hardship endured by all during the war and relates the history of South Africa from 1652.

DAY 8: LEISURE GUESTS - LADYSMITH BATTLEFIELDS (B,L*,D) GOLFERS (B,D) 07:00 09:00

12:30 13:45 16:00 19:30

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Visit the Siege Museum. Transfer (45 minutes) to Spionkop Lodge for a battlefields tour and light refreshments before moving to Spionkop hill to finish this historic story. Return to the lodge for lunch. Afternoon game drive OR relax at the lodge. Return to the train. Depart for Durban. Dinner is served in the dining cars. BATTLEFIELDS Trace the course of the Anglo Boer Wars at the Siege Museum in Ladysmith. Wagon Hill is where both the South Africans and British suffered heavy losses and was subsequently declared a National Monument in 1938. Walk in the footsteps of three great leaders Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and General Louis Botha – a story on which the sun never sets. Britain marched into the South African war in the spring of 1899, confident that it “would all be over by Christmas!” The war lasted three years and was to become the most costly Britain had ever fought. *Lunch provided; beverages for own account.

06:30

15:00 16:30

19:30

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. One-hour transfer to Champagne Sports Resort for tee off. Return to the train. Tea is served in the lounge and observation car. Depart for Durban. Dinner is served in the dining cars.

DAY 9: LEISURE GUESTS - DURBAN (B,D) GOLFERS (B,D) 07:00 10:00

16:30 19:30

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Disembark for a Durban city tour and a visit to the botanical gardens and Ushaka Marine World. Return to the train. Depart for Empangeni. Dinner is served en route to Hluhluwe. DURBAN Durban is the third largest city in South Africa and enjoys great importance due to its industry and very large port. Drive along the ‘Golden Mile’ promenade where numerous hotels and restaurants are situated. Visit the Victoria Market and uShaka Marine World – Africa’s largest marine theme park. Entrance fee to waterpark: Guest’s own account.

07:00

15:00 16:30

19:30

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Transfer to Durban Country Club for tee off. Return to the train. Tea in the lounge and observation car. Depart for Empangeni. Dinner is served in the dining cars.

DAY 10: ST LUCIA WETLAND PARK (B,D) 07:00 08:30

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Transfer (75 minutes) to the world-heritage site, St Lucia (iSimangaliso) Wetland Park. Enjoy a boat cruise with lunch in St Lucia town.

Updated 19 March 2018

13:15 16:30 19:30

Return to the train. Tea is served in the lounge and observation car. Depart for Hluhluwe. Dinner is served in the dining cars. ST LUCIA (ISIMANGALISO) WETLAND PARK iSimangaliso Wetland Park covers over 600 000 acres from St Lucia in the south to the Mozambique border in the north and has spectacular diversity. Declared a World Heritage site in 1999, the park covers a mosaic of landforms that have created a vast array of biomes to support a wide variety of animals, plants and birds. The park boasts the highest bird count in all of Africa, the southern-most breeding spots for turtles in Africa, Africa’s tallest forested dunes, the largest remaining stands of sand forest and the biggest peat beds in the Southern Hemisphere.

DAY 11: HLUHLUWE (B,D) 05:00 06:30 15:00 16:30 19:30

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Game drives in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park. Return to the train. Depart for Mpaka, Swaziland, where border formalities take place. Tea is served in the lounge and observation car. Dinner is served in the dining cars. HLUHLUWE-IMFOLOZI PARK As the oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa, Hluhluwe consists 960km² (96 000ha) of hilly topography 280km north of Durban in central Zululand and is known for its rich wildlife and conservation efforts. The park is the only state-run park in KwaZulu-Natal where all the Big Five game animals occur. Due to conservation efforts, the park now has the largest population of white rhino in the world. It is also one of the world’s top spots for viewing Nyala and is a prime birding destination for 340 species.

DAY 12: SWAZILAND (B,D) 07:00 08:30 10:00 16:00 19:30

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Depart in vehicles from Mpaka, Swaziland. Visit Swazi Candles, Mantenga Cultural Village, Mantenga Lodge and Ngwenya Glass Factory. Transfer (90 minutes) to Jeppes Reef for border formalities. Rejoin the train. Dinner is served in the dining cars. SWAZILAND This tiny kingdom covers only 17 000m2 making it the second smallest country in Africa. Experience Manzini, Swazi Candles and the Swazi market: a hive of activity displaying a wide variety of skillfully crafted woodcarvings, colourful textiles and superb basketwork for which Swazis are renowned. Continue through the Ezulwini Valley passing the Ludzidzini Royal residence en route to Mantenga Lodge and the capital, Mbabane. Visit to the Ngwenya Glass Complex before returning to the train.

DAY 13: KRUGER PARK (B,D) 06:00 07:00 16:00 16:30 19:00 19:30

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Full-day game viewing in the Kruger Park. Return to the train. Tea is served in the lounge and observation car. Depart for Nelspruit. Dinner is served in the dining cars. KRUGER NATIONAL PARK The world-renowned Kruger National Park has 2-million hectares of unrivalled in diversity of life forms. It is a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and home to an impressive number of species, e.g. 336 species of trees, 49 species of fish, 34 species of amphibians, 114 species of reptiles, 507 species of birds and 147 species of mammals including the Big Five.

DAY 14: LEISURE GUESTS - PANORAMA TOUR (B,D) GOLFERS (B,D) 07:00 09:00 16:30 19:30

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Full-day tour of historical areas Pilgrim’s Rest, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and Wonderview. Return to the train in Nelspruit (140km). Depart for Witbank. Dinner is served in the dining cars. PANORAMA ROUTE Pilgrim’s Rest is a living museum and declared a National Monument. Gold was discovered in this area in 1873 attracting 1500 prospectors. Today many of the restored miner’s houses serve as shops and restaurants. After lunch visit Bourke’s Luck Potholes, which are strange deep cylindrical cavities formed by river erosion and floodwater. Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve has the most spectacular viewpoints with astonishing views over South Africa’s Lowveld (so-named because it is much lower than the high escarpment along which the Panorama Route runs).

07:00

16:30

19:30

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Transfer to White River for tee off. Return to the train. Depart for Witbank. Dinner is served in the dining cars.

DAY 15: ARRIVAL IN PRETORIA WITH A TOUR OF THE CITY AND SOWETO (B) 07:00 10:00 10:15 18:00

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09:30. Arrive at Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria. Check out of the train. Luggage will be stored at the station. Tour of Pretoria and Soweto. Return to Rovos Rail Station where your Shongololo adventure ends. SOWETO AND PRETORIA Soweto comprises one-million people and was made famous by the Apartheid laws. Pass the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (the largest hospital in the Southern Hemisphere) and drive past the only street in Africa that once housed two Nobel Peace laureates, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. Visit the Hector Petersen Memorial, named after one of the first students to be killed in the 1976 uprising against the Apartheid government. Spend the afternoon in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, visiting the Union Buildings. Designed by the famous colonial English architect, Sir Herbert Baker, and completed in 1913, the Union Buildings house the offices of the President and Ministers. Before leaving the capital behind visit the Voortrekker Monument that commemorates the ‘Great Trek’ of the 1830s.

Excursions may be changed according to schedule achieved. Times are approximate and cannot be guaranteed. Please check with the Train Manager or reservations@shongololo.com for any updates/changes to the itinerary.

In your cabin you will find the Journeys magazine that features articles of interest related to the route.

INCLUDED: Accommodation, breakfast, lunch (where stated) and dinner; excursions accompanied by a qualified tour guide, entrance fees as per itinerary; return transfers to golf courses; tea, coffee and bottled water on board (1L/day) and government tax.

EXCLUDED: Lunch off the train (where stated); all beverages; course fees (green fees payable in advance); laundry; gratuities; visas, travel insurance and pre- and post-tour accommodation, flights and transfers.

MEALS ON BOARD (unless adjusted) Breakfast 07h00-10h00 • Lunch 13h00 • Dinner 19h30.

Course information kindly supplied by Larry Gould, author of ‘Larry Gould’s Guide to Golf’ as well as from course websites. Updated MAR 2018.

GOOD HOPE GOLF COURSE INFORMATION Course selection is dependent on availability.

ARABELLA Hermanus • Links and Parklands • 6 300m • Carts available • www.arabellacountryestate.co.za Set in the majestic Kogelberg mountain range and bordered by the Bot Rivier Lagoon, Arabella has tricky bunkers, immaculate kikuyu fairways and inventive water hazards. The fabled championship course has consistently been ranked in the top 10 courses in South Africa. The 8th hole has been described as one of the most beautiful par 5s in South Africa and the 18th hole was rated one of the finest finishing holes in the country. The course was designed and built by the highly acclaimed South African golf course architect Peter Matkovich in 1999. Since then, many professionals and celebrities have enjoyed the Arabella experience including Jack Nicklaus, Samuel L. Jackson, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Ronan Keating, Lee Westwood, Tim Clark and Gary Player. OUBAAI GOLF CLUB Herold’s Bay • Links • 6 516m • Carts available • www.oubaai.co.za In designing Oubaai, Ernie Els and his team have taken full advantage of the spectacular landscape with the support of Nicklaus Design. The philosophy is based on flexibility where concepts are moulded according to the landscape, not vice versa. With its special cliff-side location and high vantage point above rivers and valleys, the initial impression will be of large open fairways, superb directional and protective bunkers and large undulating greens, but be assured that despite the seeming freedom off the tee there is a strategy that requires intelligent positioning of each shot. Signature hole: 17th - par 3 - 132m With an elevated tee and breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean, the ever-changing winds and undulating green guarded by four bunkers make this a tough little hole. FANCOURT COUNTRY CLUB George • 1 Links and 2 Parkland • Carts available • www.fancourt.co.za 1. MONTAGU • 6 714m • This course is exquisitely conditioned with a glorious parkland layout covering large tracts of varying terrain on rolling land. Mature trees, flowerbeds, shrubs and water hazards provide a colourful contrast. Signature hole: 17th - par 3 - 190m This is scary for the average golfer with its long carry over water but the green is large and receptive so ignore it and go for the flag. If conservative, favour the left side of the green. 2. OUTENIQUA • 6 312m • Named after the mountain range overlooking the area, this parklands course is regarded as the easier one being more open in appearance yet it has its share of challenges and risk-and-reward moments. Signature hole: 14th - par 4 - 421m No surprise this is the toughest hole with its intimidating tee shot over water. If the flag is on the left of the green, play conservatively for the middle as there is water lurking at the back left. PEZULA Knysna • Links and Parklands • 5 963m • Carts available • www.pezulagolf.com Pezula is a sweeping spectacle of fairways and greens rolling through the pristine Southern Cape landscape. The award-winning course, designed by David Dale and Ronald Fream of GolfPlan USA, rates amongst the best and the most scenic in the world. Covering 254 hectares on the Knysna clifftops, Pezula has views of both the Knysna Lagoon and the Indian Ocean. It is designed to include a full range of shots in a diverse coastal terrain making it a challenging, rewarding and complete golf experience for players of all levels. Signature hole: 13th - par 5 - 467m This amazing hole drops 200ft and is measured in ‘airtime’. Your level or uneven lie will determine your second shot selection. Don't forget to look back to the tee when you finish the hole. KIMBERLEY GOLF CLUB Kimberley • Parklands • 6 229m • Carts available • www.kimberleygolfclub.co.za KGC carries over 100 years of history and hosted the very first South African Championships in 1892. It is a Bob Grimsdell-designed parklands course boasting exceptional well-tendered kikuyu fairways and cynodon greens – more than a match for whatever El Niño has thrown at this semi-desert region in the past. The course has two distinct faces: a green summer look that has the ball holding and a frosted winter white look that has the ball rolling. Whatever the season the course remains player friendly. CHAMPAGNE SPORTS RESORT Drakensberg • Mountain • 7 400m • Carts available • www.champagnesportsresort.com Located in the beautiful Drakensberg area, this course has to be rated as one of the most scenically memorable golf layouts in South Africa. Designed by Hugh Baiocchi and Kevin Curren, it successfully blends the natural attributes of the terrain and the surrounding beauty with the modern demands of a quality course. It undulates up and around the contours of a valley that nestles under the dominant peaks of Champagne and Cathkin Peaks and incorporates several holes with blind tee shots. Professional and novice alike will appreciate the 84 well-appointed bunkers that line the fairways and greens. The quality of the greens is accredited to Trevor Livesey whose passion remains unabated. Though the drama of the mighty mountains dominates the eye, the course also enjoys gentle vistas where the lower hills create a kaleidoscope of colour blessed with trees, rivers and dams to add even more of a challenge. DURBAN COUNTRY CLUB Durban • Semi-links • 6 157m • Carts available • www.dcclub.co.za Built by George Waterman and fellow professional golfer Laurie Waters, the Durban Country Club was established in 1922 and has a proud history. The difficulties these men faced were immense as all earth-moving had to be done manually, giant sand dunes were flattened and dense bush and trees chopped down and carted away. Renowned for its classic Cape Dutch architecture, lush vegetation, undulating fairways, sand dunes and beautiful setting overlooking the Indian Ocean, the club has been the venue of choice for many an important celebration in its rich history.

Signature Hole: 3rd - par 5 - 468m A tee shot from the highest point on the course into a valley below, completely exposing the drive to the ocean gusts. Trees on the right of the straightaway hole need to be avoided as well as the large fairway bunker on the landing area to the left. DURBAN BEACHWOOD Durban • Semi-links • 6 016m • Carts available • www.dcclub.co.za The seaside layout of Beachwood has deservedly received accolades for its immaculate conditioning. Originally designed by Sid & Jack Brews in 1930, it has always been famed for its narrow fairways and indigenous trees. When Beachwood amalgamated with Durban Country Club in the late 1990s, Gary Player’s design team was asked to upgrade and redesign some of the holes while introducing additional hazards. The results are to be savoured as one plays a course with clever bunkering and water features with superb greens. The land follows rolling and undulating contours allowing fairways to follow natural valleys between high grassy banks requiring precision shots and lay-ups. Signature Hole: 6th - par 4 - 410m One of the most demanding holes you will find anywhere, the 6th is set high in the dunes and doglegs left with a stream, bush and water hazard to be negotiated en route to the green. ZIMBALI North Coast KwaZulu-Natal • Links Coastal & Parklands • 6 524m • Carts compulsory • www.zimbalicc.co.za A truly spectacular golf estate offering sweeping panoramas of the surrounding hills, forest and ocean. Former South African PGA and British Open Champion Tom Weiskopf has remained true to his style and designed a course that caters to players of all abilities. Opened in 1998 it has firmly cemented itself as one of the area’s favourites. Being an eco-conscious estate, the tee boxes are often situated in slightly tricky positions to avoid environmental disturbances. The first 11 holes take you over rolling hills with ideal vantage points from which to enjoy the magnificent views. Holes 12 to 18 explore the Zimbali indigenous forest. NKONYENI Swaziland • Bushveld • 5 810m • Carts available • www.nkonyenigroup.co.za Nkonyeni Golf Estate is situated in 1200 hectares of gorgeous bushveld overlooking the Great Usuthu River and surrounding mountains. Built in 2007, the championship course was designed by Phil Jacobs (previously associated with the Gary Player Group and responsible for a total of 40 golf courses in France, Hong Kong, China, Philippines, Indonesia and South Africa) and further constructed by Robert Richardson. The bushveld course meanders through the private game reserve providing a unique experience at the 18th hole with a shot across the Usuthu River onto an island surrounded by rocks. LEOPARD CREEK Kruger Park Malelane • Parklands • 6 631m • Carts compulsory • www.leopardcreek.co.za This ultra-exclusive world-class facility is the brainchild of magnate Johan Rupert and, as can be expected, no expense was spared. Bordered to the north and the west by the picturesque Crocodile River and the Kruger National Park, the course represents African golf at its best with indigenous bushveld bordering the immaculate fairways and greens. Innovative architectural and landscaping techniques ensure the course is naturally protected from animals, while lakes and small streams divert through the development to create scenic vistas and interesting golf strategies. Signature hole: 13th - par 5 - 505m Here the green is right on the edge of the Crocodile River but 32 metres above the water level offering magnificent views up the river and into the Kruger Park. WHITE RIVER Nelspruit • Parklands • 6 036m • Carts available • www.whiterivercountryclub.co.za White River has naturally adapted to the valley floor upon which it lies at the foot of private nature reserves. Such is the beauty of it that holes 7 and 11 have been compared to the likes of Augusta. First opened in 1924 it was designed by Gary Player and Reg Taylor. The long, snaking river that runs through the course is the defining feature and is home to an astounding array of flora and fauna. Signature hole: 5th - par 3 - 138m: This hole calls for an accurate tee shot over the river onto a gently sloping green. NELSPRUIT GOLF CLUB Nelspruit • Parklands • 5 700m • Carts available • www.nelspruitgolfclub.co.za Nelspruit lies in the fertile valley of the Crocodile River in the hot and humid Lowveld. It has a very important place on the tourist map due to its close proximity to the Kruger National Park. Founded in November 1928 and moved to its present location in 1939, Nelspruit Golf Club is one of Mpumalanga’s top courses. The bushveld course is a Bob Grimsdell design built among rocky outcrops. It was a nine-holer for nearly 30 years before Grimsdell returned to complete a second nine in 1967. It was left largely untouched until 1998 when Peter Matcovich upgraded it. The course is lined with indigenous lowveld trees and bent grass greens and cynoden/kikuyu fairways complement the landscape. Nelspruit Golf Club is famous for hosting the annual Jock of the Bushveld Festival of Golf, considered the biggest amateur tournament of its kind in the world. Started in 1968, it now receives some 800 amateurs from far and wide who play more than 2 000 rounds during a week in May.

DRESS CODE

Acceptable clothing: • Shirts with collars and sleeves must be tucked in • Traditional long or short golf trousers • Short trousers with knee-length stockings or short white socks • Ladies skirts or culottes must be knee-length • Golf hats or peaks worn with peak forward • Golf shoes with soft spikes (most clubs)

Not acceptable: • T-shirts, vests or sleeveless shirts • Denim jeans • Sweatpants or cargo pants • Drawstring shorts • Shoes without socks • Cross-trainer sports shoes

Updated 16 March 2018

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS: We will do our best to cater for special dietary requirements provided a detailed request has been made at the time of your reservation. If a special request has not been made, the chefs will endeavour to prepare suitable meals with the ingredients available on board. We regret we are unable to prepare meals requiring strict religious observance in the preparation. DINING: Meals on board are served in one sitting only in the dining cars. Breakfast: 07:00-09:00 • Lunch: 13:00 • Dinner: 19:30. All meals are served at these times unless otherwise stated in the timetable. A gong heralds lunch and dinner. Bar service is from 07:00-01:00. DRESS: The atmosphere on board is relaxed so casual clothing is recommended. For off-train excursions we strongly recommend comfortable walking shoes, sun lotion and hats. If required, blankets and rain capes are available. For game drives, which are on open vehicles, please dress accordingly: mornings can be cool then warm up considerably; afternoons can be warm then cool down considerably. Please see average temperatures as a guide. ELECTRICITY: 220V AC 50Hz 3-point round-pronged wall plugs, 110V/220V 2-pin plugs for shavers and chargers. International adaptors available. A generator supplies power. Please be aware that certain breaks in power are necessary when servicing is required. GIFT SHOP/ADMINISTRATION: There is a small gift shop on the train and at Rovos Rail Station. Due to the varying exchange rates, credit cards are preferred. The host/ess on duty has a basic First Aid kit and personal essentials (toothbrushes, razors, earplugs etc.). He/she will also fulfil any administrative requirements and check your onward arrangements. GRATUITIES: Gratuities for the staff are at your discretion. If you wish to show your appreciation in this manner, there will be a suitably marked envelope in your cabin that you can hand directly to the Train Manager who will distribute any amounts on a pro-rata basis (share) among the staff on board. An amount between ZAR100-200 (±US$10-20) per person per night is suggested, depending on the length of your journey. LAUNDRY: There is a LIMITED laundry service on board comprising household washers, dryers and steam irons. The turnaround is 48 hours so we are not able to handle a week’s worth of laundry. There are no dry-cleaning facilities en route or on board the train. Items cost between R10.00 and R35.00. LUGGAGE: It is possible to store luggage in your cabin under the bed or above the door, depending on the category of accommodation you are in. It is not recommended to bring excess luggage as space is limited. MAGAZINES, MAPS AND GAMES: There are board games, playing cards, a card table (dependent), books and magazines available for your use in the lounge and observation cars while on board. In your cabin is a map, itinerary and the Journeys magazine featuring articles of interest related to the route. If the map supplied is not comprehensive enough you may purchase a more detailed map from the Gift Shop. MOBILE DEVICES AND INTERNET: In maintaining the spirit of train travel there are no radios or television sets on board. The use of mobile phones, laptops and essentially anything that has the ability to disturb other passengers is confined to the privacy of your cabins only. The reception is poor while the train is moving. It is advised to contact your service provider to ensure the correct settings for network services are activated. WiFi is available at our lounges in Cape Town and Pretoria and at most off-train accommodation. SECURITY: An electronic safe is provided in the cupboard in each cabin. SMOKING: On board the train smoking is allowed in the smoking lounge and cabins. HOWEVER, please be mindful of other non-smoking guests, that the train is generally made up of wood and DO NOT throw flammable items such as cigarette or cigar butts off the train. Bush fires in Africa are a constant and dangerous hazard. SPECIAL OCCASIONS: Please note at the time of your reservation if you are celebrating a special occasion as we would like to share it with you. TEMPERATURE AND TIME ZONES: All public cars and cabins are fitted with gas-filled air-conditioners with temperature controls that can also be set to heat mode. Windows should be closed while operating the air-conditioning unit. Electric under-blankets are fitted on the bed. See guide…

AVERAGE TEMPS °C JAN/FEB MAR/APR MAY/JUN JUL/AUG SEP/OCT NOV/DEC Rainfall Months

TIME ZONE AREA Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max

Cape Town, South Africa 16 28 13 26 9 21 7 19 9 22 13 27 Apr-Aug GMT+2 Pretoria, South Africa 18 30 15 27 7 23 4 22 13 28 16 30 Oct-Mar GMT+2 Durban, South Africa 21 29 19 28 12 25 16 25 16 26 19 28 Oct-Mar GMT+2 Mbabane, Swaziland 16 28 13 27 5 23 5 23 10 26 14 28 Nov-Feb GMT+2 Vic Falls, Zimbabwe 15 29 14 29 8 23 7 27 16 28 16 26 Dec-Mar GMT+2 Maputo, Mozambique 31 23 30 21 27 15 26 15 28 18 30 21 Nov-Mar GMT+2 Lüderitz, Namibia 24 15 24 15 22 12 20 11 20 12 22 13 Jan-Mar GMT+2 Walvis Bay, Namibia 22 16 22 15 22 11 20 10 18 11 20 13 March GMT+2 Etosha Pan, Namibia 31 18 30 17 27 10 27 10 32 15 33 18 Jan-Mar GMT+2

THE TRACK: The track over which we travel is inconsistently maintained. If you wake at night imagining the train is travelling at high speed, be assured it is the state of the track below creating that impression. We restrict the train to 60km/h (37mph) and over bad sections reduce speed to as little as 20km/h (12mph). If you find it noisy, earplugs are available. WATER: The water used on the train is carried in tanks under each coach. These tanks are filled every day but they cannot be topped up while the train is travelling. Water inside the cabins has been filtered and chlorinated; it is safe for bathing and brushing teeth only. Please use the bottled water provided for drinking – each cabin receives a complimentary 1-litre bottle of water per day.